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Surf fans riot after Huntington Beach surfing contest

Michel Bourez defeated 11-time ASP World Champ Kelly Slater in at the Vans US Open of Surfing.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -

Wild crowds surged through Huntington Beach after an ASP surfing contest ended Sunday, and it took police a few hours to get the crowd to chill out.

Rioting broke out when police attempted to disperse thousands of surf and skate fans following the close of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing.

Young men and women looted businesses, raced on top of portable bathrooms, brawled with each other, and smashed car windows. One person was treated for injuries at a hospital after being hit by a flying bottle.

Police arrested eight and used pepper spray and nonlethal ammunition to control the mob. Officials were able to regain control of downtown Huntington Beach by 10 p.m.

Witness Doug Cavender said the scene was "Really, really nuts. And it got really crazy really fast. I honestly didn't think stuff like this happened in the OC."

Property damage could reach tens of thousands of dollars. Police are sifting through photos and video of the melee posted online and expect to make more arrests.

"We’re extremely disappointed and saddened by the disturbance that occurred up on Main Street after the close of the US Open of Surfing. We appreciate the quick response of Huntington Beach PD," contest organizers said Monday.

Before the chaos broke out, Alejo Muniz, 23, and Carissa Moore, 20, won the 2013 Vans US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach Pier.

Santa Cruz's Nat Young lost in the quarter finals to Brazilian Alejo Muniz.

Waves were not pumping as they rolled in a 3-feet, creating conditions that are harder for the world's top surfers to score high points with. Kelly Slater lost to Michel Bourez in Round 8.

Brazilian Muniz out-shredded Southern California favorite Kolohe Andino, 19, for the championship. Andino was the last Southern Californian remaining in men’s competition and was in dangerous form entering the final. The progressive regular-footer would open his final exchange with a 7.77 but was unable to find the second score needed to surpass Muniz, finishing runner-up overall.

Muniz struggled throughout the first half of his ASP season, but he vaulted to No. 15 in world rankings with his win in Huntington Beach Sunday.

In the women's contest, Hawaiian Moore beat out the locals' favorite, 19-year-old Courtney Conlogue, and her Huntington Beach victory lifted her to No. 1 in the ASP Women's WCT rankings.

Conlogue put in an amazing showing in front of her hometown crowd, besting then-No. 1 Tyler Wright (AUS), 19, in the semifinals.

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